Computationalism, connectionism, dynamicism and beyond: looking for an integrated approach to cognitive science

Abstract

Cognitive scientists are nowadays apparently required to choose between at least three different competing schools or general approaches: the computational, the connectionist and the dynamicist. More than three decades of unresolved paradigm fight encourage an alternative view: that each of these general approaches offer, not different explanations, but explanations of different aspects of cognitive phenomena. In this paper, I articulate this view by showing that each general approach can be taken to promote research primarily within a particular level of explanation. Failure to appreciate this fact has frequently led to largely incomplete accounts within each school. I argue that, if the articulation offered is sound, it supports the statement of an integrated programme for cognitive science where all the aforementioned general approaches have their place. Finally, I illustrate this analysis via a central theme for a clash of rival explanations in cognitive research, namely, systematicity.